Rafa Benitez gave an update after the 3-1 win at Wolfsburg yesterday, and he talked about Aleksandar Mitrovic – who he seemed pleased with. – and the state of the

He also spoke about the situation of the transfer window – which appears to have gone into another slow period with Newcastle seemingly not near to any breakthrough.

Newcastle still needs a left back, playmaker and striker to round out what would be a decent transfer window this summer.

And most of all we need a striker who can score the goals for us, but if for some reason we cannot get a good striker in then we assume Rafa will keep Aleksandar Mitrovic on board and the Serbian looked good again yesterday afternoon in the first half.

Aleksandar Mitrovic after scoring yesterday at Wolfsburg

This is what Rafa has said after the game as reported in the Shields Gazette:

“Mitrovic was working hard – that was the main thing,” “We told him before that he would play 45 minutes, so he has to give everything.”

“He was trying. He had some chances to score a goal.” “He was there, and that’s what we were expecting.”

“He was pushing and pressing the defenders and creating chances for himself and his team-mates.”

“We are working on that (transfers) but it’s not an easy transfer window. We have to wait and see if we can do something.”

We are still after Arsenal striker Lucas Perez, and he would seem a great buy for us at £13.4M, but once again Newcastle have balked at the price – but for £13.4M surely he would be a good buy for us – he’s worth that much to Newcastle.

But it does seem that Newcastle is more short of money than we first thought.

But the fluid way in which the lads played yesterday shows that Rafa can make the players we have into a very decent side.

I think the biggest problem this window is getting rid of the deadwood, those that we could get rid of won’t go because we are paying better wages, so we’re stuck with a side full of crap that nobody else wants.

We should cut our losses pay them off and replace them, but that’s where the money probably comes up short.

Maybe best now to wait until the winter window, and try and get some deals for our deadwood sealed in the meantime.

Reluctance to meet the asking price for Perez can only be a reflection of the budget restrictions arising from the calamitous historical deals handed out to Rivière and others. Also an age : fee ratio seems to be at play.

I am still not convinced by this team, for me mitro can go I would sell him buy a new striker who doesn’t miss very easy chances I am 54 years old and by yesturdays game I could have had a double if not a hatrick, he isn’t a good finisher and he looks as though he has at least a stone or 2 to get rid off, the man responsible for our transfers Ashley has shut the cheque book well it hasn’t really been opened has it, I still think we will get relegated end of the season no top quality signings down you go, Ashley has never learned this even though we have been relegated twice with the arsehole

I still think it is the case that we need to move some players on before anymore can come in. Hopefully Riviere can be shifted, especially now the Turkish club linked with him has recently sold a striker.

for top players you have to pay it simple as that really, the transfer market has gone way crazy with psg 199 million for Neymar that is just stupidity at its best and hes getting 615 grand a week, the way I see it fifa has to do something about these stupid transfer fees clubs are paying out and I thought there was a fair play policy with uefa obviously it doesn’t effect any clubs fees with the owners who are multi multi billionares

What happened to the £50-£75 mil transfer kitty that was reported when we won the championship; someone get their Math wrong? £13.4 mil for Perez is a steal and Rafa will know it. Someone else mentioned wage demands, that and agent fees must be the problem. Mike Ashley is many things, but financially stupid is not one. Spending to accumulate is an obvious business practice and the rewards for staying up next season are astronomicle. HWTL!

League Placement

health update

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 and completed four months of chemotherapy in late July and will continue to have hormone treatment.

The cancer spread in the bones but it has been stabilized and has not spread further.

I am still recovering from some of the side effects of the chemo treatment - it's mainly severe fatigue and exhaustion.

Stage 4 cancer is not curable so I will continue to have cat scans and bone scans every four months to ensure the cancer is not spreading.

It is as it is - these things happen - and I will do my very best under the circumstances.

Ed Harrison

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